Roads into and out of Lyons were blocked early Thursday after the St. Vrain River spilled over its banks and flooded roads in and around the town.

Residents in low-lying areas were told to head to higher ground after word came shortly after 2 a.m. that a dam had failed near Pinewood Springs and that floodwaters were headed down the canyon toward Lyons. An evacuation center was set up at Lyons Community Church, and evacuees later were moved to Lyons Elementary School.

As of 2 a.m., the St. Vrain River already had breached its banks in the town, and by 2:30 a.m., emergency sirens were sounding.

The St. Vrain Valley School District announced about 3 a.m. that the elementary school and Lyons Middle/Senior High School will be closed on Thursday.

Around 3:15 a.m., Boulder County Sheriff's deputies closed Colo. Highway 66 at 53rd Street, after water from the St. Vrain River began spilling over the highway near its intersection with U.S. Highway 36, just east of town. Highway 36 also was closed between Lyons and Estes Park.

Times-Call photographer Greg Lindstrom, who was at the intersection of Highways 36 and 66 at the time, said he could hear debris striking the bridge over the St .Vrain just south of the intersection.